Walk-in stairwell closet



All@ 20, 1963 K. M. PENNlNG-roN Erm. 3,100,915

WALK-IN STAIRWELL CLOSET Filed Sept. 29, 1960 A 7' TOR/VE V5 United States Patent O 3,1ilil,915 WALK-lN STAlRWELL CLSET Iier-init i Pennington, 5311 Luce Road, and Robert D. Swanson, 313 Maple, both oi Alina, Mich. Filed Sept. 29, 196i), Ser. No. 59,379 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-.5)

This invention relates to building construction, and particularly to building construction wherein a iowerable ramp means is provided for utilizing and gaining access to an otherwise inaccessible storage area located above a building stairwell.

In conventional residential building constructions, the various iioors in the building are interconnected by stairways or steps, and an inclined ceiling is provided thereabove to iinish oli the area and eliminate the need for iinishing oit the vertical w-all surfaces adjacent the `actual ceiling, -it being noted that by `thus providing a false inclined ceiling the area to be finished oil is substantially reduced.

The inclined false ceiling cooperates with the actual ceiling rand the vertical walls around the stairwell to provide a dead space which is normally inaccessible and un usable. It has been proposed t0` gain access vto tlu's normally lost space :by providing a doorway in the upper story, ie. in xone of the vertical walls making up the stairwell. However, such procedure necessarily subtracts from the usable wall space in the room from which the doorway is cut. In most instances the space above the inclined false ceiling is left inaccessible.

Under the present invention it is proposed to provide a novel 'arrangement for gaining acces-s to the above mentioned lost space so that same may be used for storage purposes. Thus it is proposed to provide an opening in the false inclined ceiling above the stairway and to hngedly mount a drawbridge door or walk-on ramp within the formed opening so that when access to the otherwise lost space is desired, the door or ramp may be` swung down toward the stairway steps and onto the landing or one of the uppermost steps. By this arrangement the householder is enabled to walk onto the ramp or drawbridge door and gain access to the otherwise lost space. The space may be equipped with any suitable form of storage devices, as for example clothes hanger hooks, closet poles, shelves, racks, drawers, etc.

`One object of the present invention is `to provide a construction of the immediately `above discussed type which is of relatively low cost and which does not add appreciably to the cost of the building.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device -of the above-mentioned type wherein operation thereof may be effected easily and quickly by persons having little or no mechanical aptitude, such, for example, as housewives.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned type wherein the components thereof are suitably proportioned and designed to give adequate head room for the householder so that he is not required to stoop while entering the storage area.

A further object of the invention is to provide appanatus of the above-mentioned type wherein the walk-on 'as for example thirty inches.

Y lllill Patented Aug. 20, 1963 ing description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part or" this speciiication 'wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken through one embodiment of the invention and illustrating the essential fea p tures thereof;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken in the same direction as FIG. l but showing a walk-on ramp thereof in a lowered position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantiallyon line 3'-3 on FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View showing the use of an electric motor with the FIG. l apparatus for powering purposes.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and :arrangement of parts illustrated in `the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments `and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is' to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly PEG. l, there is shown a building construction lo including the conventional upright studs i2 and i4, the overhead joists 16 and the lower joists 18 and 291 which deine the ceiling of the basement denoted generally by the numeral 21?.. The upstairs area is denoted by numeral 311i.

As shown in FIG. l, access to the basement is provided by the conventional steps or stairs 24 supported on the conventional inclined stringers 26 extending downwardly from the studding 2S. It will be lunderstood that if de- -sired the space between the two superjacent studs 1li (only one of which is visible in FIG. l) may be equipped with a door to close ofi the first o or area 39, from basement 22.

The construction thus far described is conventional, and the invention is concerned therewith only to the extent that the components to be described hereinafter cooperate with the conventional structures in providinga novel access-storage arrangement. The arrangement includes a transverse lower header 32 and an upper transverse header 3d, said headers being interconnected by two inclined parallel beams, one of which is shown at 36 in the drawings. These two beams are spaced from one another by a distance somewhat in excess of Ithe width of an adult person, By this arrangement the `free space between the two beams 3o can be utilized to gain access tothe shelving 33 mounted on the closet wall liti. The upper and lower panels 58 and 33, along with the panelled areas outside of the beams 36, denne a lcentral l.tree space or access opening.

`As shown in FiG. l the central space between the two beams 36 is normally occupied by a walk-on ramp or dnawbridge door indicated `generally by the numeral d'2. Ramp 42 may be constructed in any of several ways, but as shown in the illustrative drawings the ramp comprises a plywood panel 44 secured to the undersurface of two similar parallel longitudinal framing reinforcement members 46, only one of -which is visible in the drawings. Members lo extend substantially the entire length of the ramp so as to longitudinally reinforce the panels d4. Various transverse frame elements could also be provided to provide strength in the transverse direction.

The (walk-on ramp is hingedly mounted on the header 32 and short ceiling panel 33, as by means of the conventional hinge means 48. `Ey this arrangement the wallcon ramp may be swung downwardly from its FIG. `l closed position to the FIG. 2 open position. In the FIG. 2 position the free edge portion Si) of the ramp rests on the landing or upstairs ooring 52`so that a person may walk The closet is of course of full adult walking height, so i that'the householder does not have 4to stoop while he or she is within thc-closet area. However, in order -to provide an access to the closet area without requiring the householder to stoop as he or she enters the area, there may be provided a panel 54 hingedly mounted 4at 56 on one of the fixed ceiling panels 53. As shown in the drawings, panel S4 is provided with a cleat @il Vso that the panels will and 54 may be accurately aligned llush with one another in theFlG. l closed position. Y

Cleat ed is connected with a iiexible element 62 which may comprise one or more chains, ropes, cables, etc. The exible element is trained over suitable pulleys or guide elements 64 and de suitably mounted on the closet ceiling 68. The flexible element extends downwardly from engagement with guide element d6 to a fixed connection at iii with the walk-on ramp d2. It will be noted that connection `61 is spaced approximately the same distance Ifrom the axis of hinge y56 as the spacing between connection point 7l) and the axis of hinge By this arrangement element 62 can at all times be maintained in a taut condition since as the ramp is moved downwardly the left portion of the flexible element is elevated substantially the same amount as the right portion thereof is lowered. t will be understood that the provision of panel 54 and the cable-pulley Vmeans is optionaland that the ramp 42 could be utilized in the absence thereof. Thus, the ramp could be elongated to have a length equivalent to the combined length of the illustrated ramp and panel d so as -to provide desired head room. One advantage in utilizing .an auxiliary panel 54 is that the ramp can be made somewhat shorter than otherwise would be possible, the shorter ramp being somewhat easier for the average person to move upwardly and downwardly.

Any suitable handle structure may be provided `for pullin-g the ramp 42 downwardly. The drawings illustrate the handle means merely las Ia slot or opening 7l in the latch elements 86. The arrangement is such that the user merely extends his fingers through the slot and pulls downwardly thereon to lower the ramp. After the ramp has Vmoved a short distance away from the xed ceiling `structure 5S the ramp may be moved to its final FIG. 2 posi- -t-ion by manually grasping the edge portion 500i panel fili.

Preferably a counterbalance mechanism is provided to cushion the weight of ramp 42 so that the householder -is not required to support and hold the entire ramp weight as the ramp is being lowered. ln the drawings there is shown a suitable counter-balance means which consists simply of a set of counter-balancing spring assemblies 72 such as are commonly used for the conventional heavy double hung windows. Each counter-balancing mechanism may comprise `a fixed casing 74 suitably secured on one cf the beams 36. A wind-up clockwork type leaf spring 76 is disposed within casing 74 and is extended therefrom to a -connection with the adjacent frame d6, as

at Si).

FIG. 3 illustrates the leaf spring 7 6 wound substantially completely into the casing 74; as the ramp 42 is pulled downwardly the spring is unwound from within the casing so as to exert its counter-balancing force. Preferably, the spring does not completely counter-balance the weight of the Vramp so as to eliminate the necessity for a latchi-ng means which would otherwise be necessary to hold the ramp 42 in its FIG. 2 lowered position.

In order to latch the ramp in the raised FIG. l position there may be provided a pair of spring-urged latch mechanisms such as is .shown at S2 in FIG. 3. As there shown the latch mechanism comprises a keeper member 84 suitably secured on a ixed ceiling panel 59, and a movable latching member 86 slida'bly positioned within a guide member `88 suitably secured to the underside of the ramp panel 44. f

The slidable latch element may be provided with an abutment washer, ring or the like 90 so that when the latch element is manually retracted in the arrow 92 direction, it is withdrawn from the keeper 84. A suitable cornpression spring means may be provided at 94 to automatically advance the latch element 86 to its illustrated position when the manual pressure is removed therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 3 the latch element may be provided with a cam surface 96, whereby when the user moves the ramp 42 upwardly from the FIG. 2 position the cam surface is caused to strike against an external edge of the keeper 84 so as to momentarily retract the latch and then allow the spring 94 to automatically advance the latch into the FIG. 3 locked position.

The'locking of the ramp inthe FIG. 1 raised position is therefore automatic without need for manual operation of the latch element. Preferably a latch mechanism 82 is provided adjacent each lateral edge of the ramp. The drawings illustrate but one type of automatic latching mechanism, and it is contemplated that other types of latch devices can be employed. Several types of such latches are available on the open market.

One feature of the invention which is worthy of note resides in the fact that as shown in FIG. 1 the undersurface of panel 44- is flush with the undersurface of panel 54 and fixed ceiling panel 58. By this 'arrangement th'e ramp blends in with the surrounding paneling Vso as not to detract from the appearance thereof.

A further feature of the illustrated arrangement is the fact that it is adapted to be powered with a conventional electric motor in the event that push `button operation is desired. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4 a reversible electric motor may be mounted on the underside of ceiling 68 with shaft 102 thereof having the cable `62 trained therearound as shown. By this arrangement energization of the motor in one direction pulls the cable to the right so as to lower the ramp, and energization of the motor in the other direction pulls the cable to the left so as to raise the ramp. A suitable starter button-switch and limit switches (not shown) may be provided to control the operation of the motor.

The drawings illustrate particular structures useful in practice of the invention, but it Will be understood that variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as set 'forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a building construction including upper and lower levels with a floor on each of the levels,

a ceiling structure over the upper level,

an opening .in the oor of the upper level,

a stairway connected at its top end to, the floor of the upper level at one end of the opening,

the stairway extending down through the opening to the door of the lower level,

a short vertical 'wall extending down from the ceiling structure directly above the top end of the stairway, the -short vertical wall terminating at its lower end a substantial distance above the top end of the stairway,

a long vertical wall extending between the ceiling structure and the floor of the upper level directly above the bottom end of the stairway, an inclined panel secured to the lower ends of the vertical walls and being generally parallel to the stairway and positioned directly above the stairway,

vertical sidewalls above the sides of the stairway and extending `downwardly from the ceiling structure at least to the incline-d panel, the vertical walls, inclined panel and that portion of the ceiling structure within the vertical walls dening an enclosed space,

the improvement of,

a rectangular opening in the inclined panel with the lower lends of the inclined edges of said rectangular opening terminating at the lower end of the long vertical wall,

said inclined edges fbeing substantially as long as the horizontal `distance between the short and long vertical walls,

a ramp in said opening,

said ramp having the lower end hinged to the lower end of the long Vertical wall,

releasable latch means holding said ramp in said opening,

and said ramp being adapted to pivot from a position within said `opening to a horizontal position wherein the upper end of ysaid ramp engages the top end of the stairway and provides walk-in access from the oor of the upper level to the enclosed space.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said ramp is shorter than said opening,

a panel in the upper part of said opening,

said panel and said ramp totaling the length of said opening,

said panel being hinged at its upper edge to the bottom or" the short vertical wall t pivot upwardly into the enclosed space,

a flexible line having one end connected to a lower part of said ramp and the other end connected to the lower part of said panel,

and means within the enclosed space movably supporting the median portion of said line.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 and cluding a counterbalance attached to a median portion ofthe inclined panel and to a median portion of said ramp,

said counterbalance being of slightly lesser strength than the weight of said ramp,

and cooperable latch means connected to the inclined panel and said ramp to retain said ramp within said rectangular opening.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 and wherein said rarnp is shorter than said opening,

further ina panel in the upper part of said opening,

said panel and ramp totaling the lengtht of said opensaid panel being hinged at its upper edge to the bottom of the shorter vertical wall to pivot upwardly into the enclosed space,

a flexible line having one end connected to a lower portion of said ramp and the other end connected to the lower portion of said panel,

means within the enclosed space movably supporting a median portion of said line,

a counterbalance attached to a median portion of inclined panel and a median portion of said ramp, and cooperable latch means connected to said ramp and to the inclined panel.

5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said ramp shorter than said opening,

a panel in the upper part of said opening,

said panel and ramp totaling the length of said opening,

said panel being hinged at its upper edge to the bottorn of the shorter vertical wall to pivot upwardly into the enclosed space,

a iieXible line having one end connected to a lower portion of said ramp and the other end connected to the lower portion of said panel,

means within the enclosed space movably supporting a median portion of said line,

a motor mounted in the enclosed space adjacent said support means,

said motor having a drive shaft,

and a median portion of said line being drivingly trained around said shaft.

`References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,994,112 Stephens Aug. l, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 728,937 Germany Dec. 7, 1942 

1. IN A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER LEVELS WITH A FLOOR ON EACH OF THE LEVELS, A CEILING STRUCTURE OVER THE UPPER LEVEL, AN OPENING IN THE FLOOR OF THE UPPER LEVEL, A STAIRWAY CONNECTED AT ITS TOP END TO THE FLOOR OF THE UPPER LEVEL AT ONE END OF THE OPENING, THE STAIRWAY EXTENDING DOWN THROUGH THE OPENING TO THE FLOOR OF THE LOWER LEVEL, A SHORT VERTICAL WALL EXTENDING DOWN FROM THE CEILING STRUCTURE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE TOP END OF THE STAIRWAY, THE SHORT VERTICAL WALL TERMINATING AT ITS LOWER END A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ABOVE THE TOP END OF THE STAIRWAY, A LONG VERTICAL WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN THE CEILING STRUCTURE AND THE FLOOR OF THE UPPER LEVEL DIRECTLY ABOVE THE BOTTOM END OF THE STAIRWAY, AN INCLINED PANEL SECURED TO THE LOWER ENDS OF THE VERTICAL WALLS AND BEING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE STAIRWAY AND POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE STAIRWAY, VERTICAL SIDEWALLS ABOVE THE SIDES OF THE STAIRWAY AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE CEILING STRUCTURE AT LEAST TO THE INCLINED PANEL, THE VERTICAL WALLS, INCLINED PANEL AND THAT PORTION OF THE CEILING STRUCTURE WITHIN THE VERTICAL WALLS DEFINING AN ENCLOSED SPACE, THE IMPROVEMENT OF, A RECTANGULAR OPENING IN THE INCLINED PANEL WITH THE LOWER ENDS OF THE INCLINED EDGES OF SAID RECTANGULAR OPENING TERMINATING AT THE LOWER END OF THE LONG VERTICAL WALL, SAID INCLINED EDGES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY AS LONG AS THE HORIZONTAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SHORT AND LONG VERTICAL WALLS, A RAMP IN SAID OPENING, SAID RAMP HAVING THE LOWER END HINGED TO THE LOWER END OF THE LONG VERTICAL WALL, RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS HOLDING SAID RAMP IN SAID OPENING, AND SAID RAMP BEING ADAPTED TO PIVOT FROM A POSITION WITHIN SAID OPENING TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION WHEREIN THE UPPER END OF SAID RAMP ENGAGES THE TOP END OF THE STAIRWAY AND PROVIDES WALK-IN ACESS FROM THE FLOOR OF THE UPPER LEVEL TO THE ENCLOSED SPACE. 